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JEE Main Organic Chemistry Syllabus

The Organic Chemistry syllabus for JEE Main in full: 8 chapters, 39 topics and 92 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Organic Chemistry flashcards with answers.

8Chapters
39Topics
92Sub-topics
51Flashcards

Organic Chemistry syllabus: all 8 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds

     3 topics
    • Purification
      • Crystallization
      • Sublimation
      • Distillation
      • Differential Extraction
      • Chromatography
    • Qualitative Analysis
      • Detection of Nitrogen
      • Detection of Sulphur
      • Detection of Phosphorus
      • Detection of Halogens
    • Quantitative Analysis
      • Estimation of Carbon
      • Estimation of Hydrogen
      • Estimation of Nitrogen
      • Estimation of Halogens
      • Estimation of Sulphur
      • Estimation of Phosphorus
      • Calculations of Empirical Formulae and Molecular Formulae
      • Numerical Problems in Organic Quantitative Analysis

  2. Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry

     9 topics
    • Tetravalency of Carbon
      • Shapes of Simple Molecules
      • Hybridization (s and p)
    • Classification of Organic Compounds
      • Functional Groups
      • Compounds containing Halogens
      • Compounds containing Oxygen
      • Compounds containing Nitrogen
      • Compounds containing Sulphur
    • Homologous Series
    • Isomerism
      • Structural Isomerism
      • Stereoisomerism
    • Nomenclature
      • Trivial Nomenclature
      • IUPAC Nomenclature
    • Covalent Bond Fission
      • Homolytic Fission
      • Heterolytic Fission
    • Free Radicals, Carbocations, and Carbanions
      • Stability of Carbocations and Free Radicals
      • Electrophiles and Nucleophiles
    • Electronic Displacement in a Covalent Bond
      • Inductive Effect
      • Electromeric Effect
      • Resonance
      • Hyperconjugation
    • Common Types of Organic Reactions
      • Substitution
      • Addition
      • Elimination
      • Rearrangement

  3. Hydrocarbons

     6 topics
    • Classification, isomerism, IUPAC nomenclature, general methods of preparation, properties, and reactions
    • Alkanes
      • Conformations: Sawhorse and Newman projections (of ethane)
      • Mechanism of halogenation of alkanes
    • Alkenes
      • Geometrical isomerism
      • Mechanism of electrophilic addition
      • Addition of hydrogen, halogens, water, hydrogen halides (Markownikoff's and peroxide effect)
      • Ozonolysis and polymerization
    • Alkynes
      • Acidic character
      • Addition of hydrogen, halogens, water, and hydrogen halides
      • Polymerization
    • Aromatic hydrocarbons
      • Nomenclature, benzene - structure and aromaticity
      • Mechanism of electrophilic substitution
      • Halogenation, nitration
    • Friedel-Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of the functional group in mono-substituted benzene

  4. Organic Compounds Containing Halogens

     2 topics
    • General methods of preparation, properties, and reactions; Nature of C-X bond; Mechanisms of substitution reactions
    • Uses; Environmental effects of chloroform, iodoform freons, and DDT

  5. Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen

     4 topics
    • General methods of preparation, properties, reactions, and uses
    • Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers
      • Alcohols: Identification of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols
      • Mechanism of dehydration
      • Phenols: Acidic nature, electrophilic substitution reactions
      • Halogenation, nitration and sulphonation
      • Reimer - Tiemann reaction
      • Ethers: Structure
    • Aldehyde and Ketones
      • Nature of carbonyl group
      • Nucleophilic addition to >C=O group
      • Relative reactivities of aldehydes and ketones
      • Important reactions such as - Nucleophilic addition reactions (addition of HCN. NH3, and its derivatives), Grignard reagent
      • Oxidation, reduction (Wolf Kishner and Clemmensen)
      • The acidity of -hydrogen, aldol condensation, Cannizzaro reaction
      • Haloform reaction, Chemical tests to distinguish between aldehydes and Ketones
    • Carboxylic Acids
      • Acidic strength and factors affecting it

  6. Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen

     3 topics
    • General methods of preparation
    • Amines
      • Nomenclature, classification structure, basic character, and identification of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines and their basic character
    • Diazonium Salts
      • Importance in synthetic organic chemistry

  7. Biomolecules

     6 topics
    • General introduction and importance of biomolecules
    • Carbohydrates
      • Classification
      • Aldoses and ketoses
    • Proteins
      • Elementary Idea of amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides.
    • Vitamins
      • Classification and functions
    • Nucleic Acids
      • Chemical constitution of DNA and RNA
      • Biological functions of nucleic acids
    • Hormones
      • General introduction

  8. Principles Related to Practical Chemistry

     6 topics
    • Detection of extra elements in organic compounds
      • Nitrogen
      • Sulphur
      • Halogens
    • Detection of functional groups in organic compounds
      • Hydroxyl (alcoholic and phenolic)
      • Carbonyl (aldehyde and ketones)
      • Carboxyl
      • Amino groups
    • Chemistry involved in the preparation of compounds
      • Inorganic compounds: Mohr’s salt, potash alum
      • Organic compounds: Acetanilide, p-nitro acetanilide, aniline yellow, iodoform
    • Chemistry involved in titrimetric exercises
      • Acids, bases, and the use of indicators
      • Oxalic-acid vs KMnO4, Mohr’s salt vs KMnO4
    • Chemical principles involved in qualitative salt analysis
      • Cations
      • Anions
    • Chemical principles involved in experiments
      • Enthalpy of solution of CuSO4
      • Enthalpy of neutralization of strong acid and strong base
      • Preparation of lyophilic and lyophobic sols
      • Kinetic study of the reaction of iodide ions with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature

JEE Main Organic Chemistry flashcards — 51 questions with answers

  1. What is the purpose of purification techniques in organic chemistry?

    To separate an organic compound from impurities and obtain it in a pure state. The choice of method depends on the nature of the compound and the impurities present (differences in physical properties like solubility, volatility, boiling point, etc.).

  2. Name the common methods used for the purification of organic compounds.

    Sublimation, crystallisation, distillation, differential extraction, and chromatography. The selection depends on the nature of the compound and the impurity.

  3. What is crystallisation and on what property is it based?

    Crystallisation is a purification technique based on the difference in solubility of the compound and impurities in a suitable solvent. The impure compound is dissolved in a hot solvent, and on cooling the pure compound crystallises out while impurities remain in solution (mother liquor).

  4. What is the ideal characteristic of a solvent chosen for crystallisation?

    The compound should be sparingly soluble in the solvent at room temperature but appreciably soluble at higher temperature (the solvent should dissolve the compound much more when hot than when cold), so that crystals form on cooling.

  5. How are coloured impurities removed during crystallisation?

    By adding activated animal charcoal (activated carbon) to the hot solution. The charcoal adsorbs the coloured impurities, and the solution is then filtered hot, leaving a colourless filtrate that crystallises to give pure crystals.

  6. What is fractional crystallisation?

    A technique used when two or more compounds have nearly the same solubility. Repeated crystallisation gives crops of crystals of slightly different composition, allowing separation of compounds with comparable solubilities.

  7. What is sublimation and which compounds are purified by it?

    Sublimation is the process in which a solid changes directly into vapour on heating, without passing through the liquid state, and the vapour condenses back to solid on cooling. It is used to purify solids that sublime (e.g. $\ce{naphthalene}$, $\ce{camphor}$, $\ce{anthracene}$, $\ce{benzoic acid}$) from non-sublimable impurities.

  8. What is distillation and on what property is it based?

    Distillation is the purification of liquids based on differences in their boiling points (volatility). The liquid is heated to vapour, which is then condensed back to liquid in a separate vessel, separating volatile liquids from non-volatile impurities or from each other.

  9. For what kind of liquid mixtures is simple distillation suitable?

    Simple distillation is suitable for separating a liquid from a non-volatile impurity, or for separating two liquids whose boiling points differ appreciably (by more than about $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ to $30\,^{\circ}\text{C}$).

  10. What is fractional distillation and when is it used?

    Fractional distillation is used to separate two or more miscible liquids whose boiling points are close to each other. A fractionating column is fitted between the flask and condenser, providing repeated vaporisation-condensation cycles so vapours become richer in the more volatile component.

  11. How does a fractionating column improve separation in fractional distillation?

    It provides a large surface area on which ascending vapours and descending liquid repeatedly come into contact. Each contact is equivalent to one distillation, so a single fractional distillation acts like many simple distillations, sharpening the separation of close-boiling liquids.

  12. What is distillation under reduced pressure (vacuum distillation) used for?

    It is used to purify liquids that decompose at or below their boiling points. Reducing the pressure lowers the boiling point, so the liquid can be distilled at a temperature well below its normal boiling point (e.g. concentration of $\ce{H2SO4}$, distillation of glycerol).

  13. What is steam distillation and which compounds can be purified by it?

    Steam distillation purifies steam-volatile compounds that are immiscible with and insoluble in water. The compound distils over with steam at a temperature below $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. The liquid boils when the sum of its vapour pressure and that of water equals atmospheric pressure (e.g. aniline, $\ce{o}$-nitrophenol).

  14. In steam distillation, what is the relation governing the boiling of the mixture?

    The mixture boils when the total vapour pressure equals the atmospheric pressure: $$p_{\text{total}} = p_{\text{water}} + p_{\text{compound}} = p_{\text{atmospheric}}$$ Hence the mixture boils below $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, allowing distillation of heat-sensitive compounds.

  15. What is differential extraction and on what principle is it based?

    Differential (solvent) extraction is used to recover an organic compound dissolved in water by shaking it with an immiscible organic solvent (e.g. ether) in a separating funnel. It is based on the difference in solubility (partitioning) of the compound between water and the organic solvent.

  16. Why is extraction with small portions of solvent repeated several times more efficient than one large portion?

    Because of the distribution (partition) equilibrium, several extractions with small volumes remove more of the solute in total than a single extraction with the same total volume of solvent. Repeated extraction shifts more compound into the organic layer each time.

  17. What is chromatography and what does the name originally signify?

    Chromatography is a technique for separating, purifying, and identifying the components of a mixture based on differential distribution between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. The name (Greek 'chroma' = colour) originated from its first use in separating coloured plant pigments.

  18. Into which two broad categories is chromatography classified?

    Adsorption chromatography (based on differential adsorption of components on a solid stationary phase, e.g. column and thin layer chromatography) and partition chromatography (based on differential partition/distribution between two liquid phases, e.g. paper chromatography).

  19. What is the principle of adsorption chromatography?

    Different compounds are adsorbed on an adsorbent (stationary phase, e.g. silica gel or alumina) to different degrees. As the mobile phase moves, more strongly adsorbed components move slowly and weakly adsorbed components move faster, achieving separation.

  20. In thin layer chromatography (TLC), how is the retardation factor $R_f$ defined?

    $$R_f = \frac{\text{distance moved by the substance from base line}}{\text{distance moved by the solvent front from base line}}$$ $R_f$ is characteristic of a compound under given conditions and is always less than or equal to 1.

Show the other 31 Organic Chemistry flashcards

  1. What is the principle of partition chromatography (paper chromatography)?

    It is based on continuous differential partitioning of components between a stationary liquid phase (water held by the cellulose/paper) and a mobile liquid phase (the developing solvent). Components distribute differently between the two liquids and so travel different distances.

  2. What is qualitative analysis of an organic compound?

    Qualitative analysis is the detection of the elements present in an organic compound. Carbon and hydrogen are detected by combustion; other elements such as nitrogen, sulphur, halogens, and phosphorus are detected mainly by Lassaigne's (sodium fusion) test.

  3. How are carbon and hydrogen detected qualitatively in an organic compound?

    The compound is heated strongly with dry $\ce{CuO}$. Carbon is oxidised to $\ce{CO2}$ (turns lime water milky) and hydrogen to $\ce{H2O}$ (turns anhydrous $\ce{CuSO4}$ blue / blue cobalt chloride paper pink): $$\ce{C + 2CuO -> CO2 + 2Cu}$$ $$\ce{2H + CuO -> H2O + Cu}$$

  4. What is the basis of Lassaigne's test for the detection of N, S, and halogens?

    The covalently bonded N, S, and halogens in the organic compound are converted into ionic (water-soluble) form by fusing the compound with sodium metal. The resulting sodium salts (NaCN, $\ce{Na2S}$, NaX) in the 'sodium fusion extract' (Lassaigne's extract) are then detected by ionic tests.

  5. Write the reactions in Lassaigne's sodium fusion that convert N, S, and halogen to ionic forms.

    $$\ce{Na + C + N ->[\Delta] NaCN}$$ $$\ce{2Na + S ->[\Delta] Na2S}$$ $$\ce{Na + X ->[\Delta] NaX} \quad (X = \text{Cl, Br, I})$$ In a compound containing both N and S, sodium thiocyanate may form: $\ce{Na + C + N + S -> NaSCN}$.

  6. How is nitrogen detected by Lassaigne's test (Prussian blue test)?

    The sodium fusion extract is boiled with $\ce{FeSO4}$ and then acidified with conc. $\ce{H2SO4}$. A Prussian blue colouration confirms nitrogen. The cyanide forms ferrocyanide, which reacts with $\ce{Fe^{3+}}$ to give ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian blue).

  7. Write the reactions for the formation of Prussian blue in the nitrogen test.

    $$\ce{6CN^- + Fe^{2+} -> [Fe(CN)6]^{4-}}$$ $$\ce{3[Fe(CN)6]^{4-} + 4Fe^{3+} -> Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3} \;(\text{Prussian blue})$$

  8. How is sulphur detected in the sodium fusion extract?

    By two tests: (1) Adding sodium nitroprusside gives a violet/purple colouration: $$\ce{Na2S + Na2[Fe(CN)5NO] -> Na4[Fe(CN)5NOS]}$$ (2) Acidifying with acetic acid and adding lead acetate gives a black precipitate of $\ce{PbS}$: $\ce{S^{2-} + Pb^{2+} -> PbS v}$.

  9. In a compound containing both nitrogen and sulphur, what colour is obtained in the Lassaigne's test and why?

    A blood-red colouration is obtained (not Prussian blue) because sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) forms during fusion. With $\ce{Fe^{3+}}$ it gives ferric thiocyanate: $$\ce{Fe^{3+} + SCN^- -> [Fe(SCN)]^{2+}} \;(\text{blood red})$$ If excess sodium is used, NaSCN decomposes to NaCN and $\ce{Na2S}$, giving the usual N and S tests separately.

  10. How is phosphorus detected in an organic compound?

    The compound is heated with an oxidising agent (sodium peroxide, $\ce{Na2O2}$), converting phosphorus to sodium phosphate. Boiling with conc. $\ce{HNO3}$ and adding ammonium molybdate gives a yellow precipitate (or colouration) of ammonium phosphomolybdate, confirming phosphorus.

  11. Write the reaction for the detection of phosphorus using ammonium molybdate.

    Phosphorus is first oxidised to phosphate: $\ce{P ->[\text{Na2O2}] Na3PO4}$. Then $$\ce{Na3PO4 + 3HNO3 -> H3PO4 + 3NaNO3}$$ $$\ce{H3PO4 + 12(NH4)2MoO4 + 21HNO3 -> (NH4)3PO4.12MoO3 v + 21NH4NO3 + 12H2O}$$ The yellow $\ce{(NH4)3PO4.12MoO3}$ confirms phosphorus.

  12. How are halogens detected by the silver nitrate (Lassaigne's) test?

    The sodium fusion extract is acidified with dilute $\ce{HNO3}$ (to decompose NaCN and $\ce{Na2S}$ which would interfere) and then $\ce{AgNO3}$ is added: white ppt (soluble in $\ce{NH4OH}$) = chlorine; pale yellow ppt (sparingly soluble in $\ce{NH4OH}$) = bromine; yellow ppt (insoluble in $\ce{NH4OH}$) = iodine.

  13. Why must the sodium fusion extract be boiled with dilute $\ce{HNO3}$ before testing for halogens with $\ce{AgNO3}$?

    If nitrogen and sulphur are present, NaCN and $\ce{Na2S}$ would react with $\ce{AgNO3}$ to give precipitates of AgCN and $\ce{Ag2S}$, interfering with the test. Boiling with dilute $\ce{HNO3}$ decomposes these as $\ce{HCN}$ and $\ce{H2S}$ gases, removing the interference.

  14. What is quantitative analysis of an organic compound?

    Quantitative analysis is the determination of the percentage composition (relative amounts) of each element present in an organic compound, used to deduce its empirical and molecular formula.

  15. On what principle is the estimation of carbon and hydrogen (Liebig's method) based?

    A known mass of the compound is burnt completely in excess oxygen over heated $\ce{CuO}$. Carbon is oxidised to $\ce{CO2}$ (absorbed in KOH) and hydrogen to $\ce{H2O}$ (absorbed in anhydrous $\ce{CaCl2}$). From the masses of $\ce{CO2}$ and $\ce{H2O}$, the percentages of C and H are calculated.

  16. In the estimation of carbon and hydrogen, what absorbs $\ce{H2O}$ and what absorbs $\ce{CO2}$?

    Water vapour is absorbed in a weighed U-tube containing anhydrous calcium chloride ($\ce{CaCl2}$). Carbon dioxide is absorbed in a weighed tube containing potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. The increases in mass give the masses of $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$ formed.

  17. Give the formula for the percentage of carbon in the combustion (Liebig) method.

    If $m$ g of compound gives $m_1$ g of $\ce{CO2}$: $$\%\,\text{C} = \frac{12}{44} \times \frac{m_1}{m} \times 100$$ (since $44$ g of $\ce{CO2}$ contains $12$ g of carbon).

  18. Give the formula for the percentage of hydrogen in the combustion method.

    If $m$ g of compound gives $m_2$ g of $\ce{H2O}$: $$\%\,\text{H} = \frac{2}{18} \times \frac{m_2}{m} \times 100$$ (since $18$ g of $\ce{H2O}$ contains $2$ g of hydrogen).

  19. Name the two methods used for the estimation of nitrogen and the type of compounds each suits.

    Dumas method (gives nitrogen as $\ce{N2}$ gas; applicable to all nitrogen-containing compounds) and Kjeldahl's method (converts nitrogen to $\ce{(NH4)2SO4}$ then $\ce{NH3}$; applicable to compounds where nitrogen converts to ammonium sulphate, but not to those with N in rings, $\ce{-NO2}$, or azo groups).

  20. Describe the principle of the Dumas method for nitrogen estimation.

    A known mass of compound is heated with $\ce{CuO}$ in an atmosphere of $\ce{CO2}$. Nitrogen is converted to $\ce{N2}$ gas (any oxides of nitrogen are reduced to $\ce{N2}$ by hot copper gauze). The $\ce{N2}$ is collected over a KOH solution and its volume measured: $$\ce{C_xH_yN_z + (2x + y/2)CuO -> xCO2 + y/2 H2O + z/2 N2 + (2x+y/2)Cu}$$

  21. In the Dumas method, how is the percentage of nitrogen calculated from the volume of $\ce{N2}$?

    The volume of $\ce{N2}$ is converted to STP, giving volume $V$ (mL). Since $22400$ mL of $\ce{N2}$ at STP weighs $28$ g: $$\%\,\text{N} = \frac{28}{22400} \times \frac{V}{m} \times 100$$ where $m$ is the mass (g) of the compound taken.

  22. Describe the principle of Kjeldahl's method for nitrogen estimation.

    The compound is heated with conc. $\ce{H2SO4}$ (with $\ce{K2SO4}$ and $\ce{CuSO4}$ catalyst); nitrogen is converted to ammonium sulphate. This is treated with excess NaOH to liberate $\ce{NH3}$, which is distilled into a known excess of standard acid. The acid not neutralised by $\ce{NH3}$ is back-titrated to find the $\ce{NH3}$, hence nitrogen.

  23. Give the formula for percentage of nitrogen in Kjeldahl's method.

    If $m$ g of compound liberates $\ce{NH3}$ neutralising acid equivalent to $V$ mL of $M$ molar $\ce{H2SO4}$ (a dibasic acid): $$\%\,\text{N} = \frac{1.4 \times M \times 2 \times V}{m}$$ (Each mole of $\ce{H2SO4}$ neutralises $2$ moles of $\ce{NH3}$; $1.4 = \frac{14}{1000}\times 100$.)

  24. Why is Kjeldahl's method not applicable to certain nitrogen compounds?

    It cannot be applied to compounds containing nitrogen in rings (e.g. pyridine), nitro ($\ce{-NO2}$) groups, or azo ($\ce{-N=N-}$) groups, because the nitrogen in these is not quantitatively converted to ammonium sulphate during digestion with $\ce{H2SO4}$.

  25. Describe the principle of Carius method for the estimation of halogens.

    A known mass of compound is heated with fuming $\ce{HNO3}$ in the presence of $\ce{AgNO3}$ in a sealed Carius tube. The halogen is converted to silver halide (AgX), which is filtered, washed, dried, and weighed. From its mass the percentage of halogen is found.

  26. Give the formula for the percentage of chlorine in Carius method.

    If $m$ g of compound gives $m_1$ g of AgCl (molar mass $143.5$, of which $35.5$ is Cl): $$\%\,\text{Cl} = \frac{35.5}{143.5} \times \frac{m_1}{m} \times 100$$ Analogous expressions use AgBr ($\frac{80}{188}$) for bromine and AgI ($\frac{127}{235}$) for iodine.

  27. Describe the principle of estimation of sulphur by Carius method.

    A known mass of compound is heated with fuming $\ce{HNO3}$ in a Carius tube; sulphur is oxidised to sulphuric acid, which is precipitated as barium sulphate ($\ce{BaSO4}$) by adding $\ce{BaCl2}$. The $\ce{BaSO4}$ is filtered, washed, dried, and weighed.

  28. Give the formula for the percentage of sulphur in the Carius (barium sulphate) method.

    If $m$ g of compound gives $m_1$ g of $\ce{BaSO4}$ (molar mass $233$, containing $32$ g of S): $$\%\,\text{S} = \frac{32}{233} \times \frac{m_1}{m} \times 100$$

  29. How is phosphorus estimated quantitatively?

    The compound is oxidised with fuming $\ce{HNO3}$ to convert phosphorus to phosphoric acid, which is precipitated either as ammonium phosphomolybdate $\ce{(NH4)3PO4.12MoO3}$ or as magnesium ammonium phosphate $\ce{MgNH4PO4}$. The latter is ignited to magnesium pyrophosphate $\ce{Mg2P2O7}$, which is weighed.

  30. Give the formula for the percentage of phosphorus when estimated as $\ce{Mg2P2O7}$.

    If $m$ g of compound gives $m_1$ g of magnesium pyrophosphate $\ce{Mg2P2O7}$ (molar mass $222$, containing $62$ g of P, i.e. $2\times 31$): $$\%\,\text{P} = \frac{62}{222} \times \frac{m_1}{m} \times 100$$

  31. How is oxygen usually estimated in an organic compound?

    Oxygen is usually estimated indirectly by difference: $$\%\,\text{O} = 100 - (\text{sum of percentages of all other elements present})$$ Direct estimation is also possible by passing the decomposition gas products over heated coke to form $\ce{CO}$, which is converted to $\ce{CO2}$ and weighed.

JEE Main Organic Chemistry FAQ

What is in the JEE Main Organic Chemistry syllabus?

JEE Main Organic Chemistry is split into 8 chapters: Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds, Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons, Organic Compounds Containing Halogens, Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen, Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen, Biomolecules and Principles Related to Practical Chemistry. Together they contain 39 topics and 92 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in JEE Main Organic Chemistry?

8 chapters, containing 39 topics and 92 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, with 9 topics.

Are there flashcards for JEE Main Organic Chemistry?

Yes — a 51-card Organic Chemistry deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.